When choosing a family car, safety and comfort are top priorities. From roomy SUVs to practical sedans, these vehicles offer impressive safety features and space for the whole family.
Here’s a rundown of the 20 best family-friendly cars with top safety ratings that’ll keep everyone safe and comfortable on the road.
1. Honda CR-V
- Why It’s Great: The CR-V is a compact SUV with a spacious cabin, excellent fuel economy, and a suite of advanced safety features.
- Safety Features: Standard Honda Sensing includes collision mitigation, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control.
2. Toyota Highlander
- Why It’s Great: This three-row SUV is a great choice for larger families, offering both space and Toyota’s renowned reliability.
- Safety Features: Comes with Toyota Safety Sense, which includes pre-collision warnings, lane departure alert, and adaptive cruise control.
3. Subaru Outback
- Why It’s Great: With standard all-wheel drive and a high ground clearance, the Outback handles all weather conditions well, ideal for active families.
- Safety Features: Includes Subaru’s EyeSight Driver Assist Technology, featuring automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise.
4. Mazda CX-5
- Why It’s Great: This compact SUV combines a sleek design with responsive handling and a high-quality interior.
- Safety Features: Comes with i-Activsense safety, offering blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and lane departure warning.
5. Hyundai Palisade
- Why It’s Great: With three rows of seating, the Palisade provides plenty of room and an upscale feel, perfect for larger families.
- Safety Features: Hyundai SmartSense includes forward collision warning, safe exit assist, and blind-spot collision avoidance.
6. Ford Explorer
- Why It’s Great: This midsize SUV has room for seven and offers strong performance along with modern safety tech.
- Safety Features: Includes Ford Co-Pilot360, featuring automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot monitoring.
7. Honda Odyssey
- Why It’s Great: Known as one of the best minivans for families, the Odyssey offers flexible seating and rear entertainment options.
- Safety Features: Comes with Honda Sensing, including adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and forward collision warning.
8. Toyota Sienna
- Why It’s Great: This hybrid-only minivan is fuel-efficient and family-friendly, with a spacious interior and standard all-wheel drive.
- Safety Features: Equipped with Toyota Safety Sense, featuring lane tracing, road sign assist, and pre-collision with pedestrian detection.
9. Kia Telluride
- Why It’s Great: With its roomy, luxurious interior and strong safety ratings, the Telluride is a family favorite.
- Safety Features: Offers Kia Drive Wise with blind-spot view monitoring, forward collision warning, and safe exit assist.
10. Chevrolet Traverse
- Why It’s Great: The Traverse offers ample seating for up to eight and one of the largest cargo areas in its class.
- Safety Features: Includes Chevy Safety Assist, with features like automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and following distance indicator.
11. Subaru Ascent
- Why It’s Great: This three-row SUV is perfect for large families who want safety, all-wheel drive, and a comfortable ride.
- Safety Features: EyeSight Driver Assist Technology includes pre-collision braking, lane departure warning, and advanced adaptive cruise.
12. Volkswagen Atlas
- Why It’s Great: The Atlas is spacious with a roomy third row, making it an ideal pick for growing families.
- Safety Features: VW’s IQ.DRIVE includes adaptive cruise control, travel assist, and emergency assist for added peace of mind.
13. Ford Edge
- Why It’s Great: A midsize SUV with two rows, the Edge is comfortable and equipped with a solid infotainment system for family road trips.
- Safety Features: Comes with Ford Co-Pilot360, including pre-collision assist, blind-spot information, and lane-keeping system.
14. Acura MDX
- Why It’s Great: This luxury SUV is known for its comfort, advanced tech, and Acura’s reputation for reliability.
- Safety Features: Includes AcuraWatch, with collision mitigation braking, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control.
15. Nissan Pathfinder
- Why It’s Great: The Pathfinder’s spacious cabin, comfortable ride, and all-wheel drive make it road-trip ready.
- Safety Features: Nissan Safety Shield 360 includes automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert, and blind-spot warning.
16. Volvo XC90
- Why It’s Great: This luxury SUV offers a refined interior and Volvo’s reputation for top-notch safety.
- Safety Features: Comes with City Safety technology, which includes automatic emergency braking with large animal detection and run-off road mitigation.
17. Chevrolet Equinox
- Why It’s Great: A compact SUV that’s affordable, reliable, and family-friendly, with good fuel economy for daily commutes.
- Safety Features: Chevy Safety Assist includes forward collision alert, lane-keeping assist, and front pedestrian braking.
18. Honda Pilot
- Why It’s Great: This midsize SUV offers three rows of seating and a well-rounded, comfortable ride for family outings.
- Safety Features: Standard Honda Sensing includes collision mitigation braking, road departure mitigation, and adaptive cruise control.
19. Mazda CX-9
- Why It’s Great: With a high-quality interior, the CX-9 provides a refined driving experience, making it ideal for families who value style and performance.
- Safety Features: Includes Mazda’s i-Activsense, with lane departure warning, radar cruise control, and blind-spot monitoring.
20. Chrysler Pacifica
- Why It’s Great: As a top minivan choice, the Pacifica offers spacious seating and advanced tech, including a hybrid option for efficiency.
- Safety Features: Equipped with standard safety features like forward collision warning, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control.
Conclusion
Each of these cars combines family-friendly features with impressive safety ratings to ensure peace of mind on the road.
From versatile minivans to spacious SUVs, these top 20 picks are built to keep everyone safe, comfortable, and entertained. Whether you’re running errands or planning a long family road trip, these vehicles are sure to make the ride smoother and safer.
